I'm glad that recently I was gifted by a family member her own vintage set of Churchill china from her dowry, otherwise I would be squirming with jealousy right now. I have loved them as long as I can remember, I will always cherish them.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Baby blue is one of those wonderful colours that need to be used in moderation. A little piece here, a little accessory there, and it's enough. Painting the walls with it hardly ever results in a cozy environment. It needs to be enveloped in warm whites, sweet pinks or bright yellows. It needs the softness of wood or the warmth of wicker. Only then the true fresh, breezy, summery qualities of this colour arise. That's how I like it.

Yes to blue kitchen appliances. What I don't understand is why the majority of kitchen equipment isn't made in pastel colors. Every single person I know goes gaga over them. Why are our options limited to hard to access brands such as Kitchenaid, Smeg and AGA? Why?

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Now that my patient anticipation for spring has finally come to fruition, my taste has gone back to what it was when this blog had first started; fresh, country style. Joyful rose prints, pinks, pastels, flowers and even colorful rugs to provide soft support for my -now that it's finally warm, bare- feet. Crisp sheets that smell like soap. Vignettes of fresh blooms. Slightly sweating when going for long walks outside and not complaining about the heat at all. These are the things that I'm into at the moment. I mean, look at that wallpaper above. How can anyone not fall in love with it?

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Since Google announced that they will be retiring Google Reader as of July 1, 2013, the internet has been abuzz seeking and suggesting alternatives. I never really used Google Reader's own page to read my feeds as I found it ugly despite its convenience. However, the apps I do depend on use my Google subscriptions to show my feeds, so of course I'm sad to see it go. Fortunately, RSS feed readers such as Feedly and Flipboard have announced they have got us covered and their service will continue to work even after Google Reader shuts down.

Here are two of my favorite Google Reader alternatives. I chose them because they are perfect for people who prefer mostly visual blogs, and because I have already been happily using them for quite a long while now. I'm not including Flipboard because it's iPhone/iPad and Android only and I haven't personally tried it yet. I'm also excluding The Old Reader because it's completely crippled by the suddenly increased demand and is rendered useless for who nows how long. Oh, and they don't offer an app.

Even if you are all set, I suggest you download a copy of your Reader data using Google Takeout. That way, if you start to feel unsatisfied about your choice of RSS reader after Google Reader is discontinued, you can still use that data to set up a different one.

If you are using a PC or a Mac, just go to feedly.com and get the plug-in for your browser. After that, all you need to do is sign in with your Google account and your subscriptions will be synced instantly. That's it, done! Just make sure you do this before Google Reader goes kaput. What I like about Feedly, apart from the speedy transition, is that it is beautiful and versatile. Whether you like to view your subscriptions in a list format or Pinterest-like stream of images, setting your preferences is a breeze. Another plus is that it's available as an app for your iPhone/iPad.

You can find my blog's feed on Feedly here, just click "add" if you wish to subscribe.

For Bloglovin', you need to create an account or login with Facebook. Once you do that, go to your Bloglovin' account settings, scroll down to import blogs from your Google Reader. And then let the fun begin! What I like about Bloglovin' is that not only is it easy to use and beautiful, but the ability to browse categories among top blogs or popular posts mean you can always discover new blogs to follow. It is also available for iPhone/iPad.

You can find my blog on Bloglovin' here, or click on the logo on the blog's sidebar to follow.

I'm sorry I can't provide you with a Facebook page for my blog. I just don't want to manage an additional account. But I do tweet my new posts on my Twitter.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

I am a stationery geek and own an abundance of pens, pencils and especially notebooks. I didn't even fight the urge to get these notebook labels and the pink writing pad with grids and a ruler. The Pentel Graphgear 1000 mechanical pencil is not new, but it is the best mechanical pencil ever made (trust me, I have tried many) and has such a perfect weight and balance. The Stabilo point 88 pens are another addiction and the colors are so beautiful. I bought turquoise and violet refills for my Lamy Safari pen, which is a delight to use.

The wooden rulers were less that $1 each so I bought four, for no other reason than greed. The red hole puncher was bought despite the fact that I haven't punched a hole in years. The train of wooden letters spell my name. I tracked down a copy of "The Best Bedtime Stories", collected by Jella Lepman and illustrated by Hansjörg Schmitthenner. It's from the 50s and consists of the combination of some of the dearest and creepiest stories ever written. I grew up with the Turkish version (illustrated by Günther Strupp) of the book that was a childhood gift to my mother from my grandma. Roald Dahl's "The Gremlins" is a new copy. Although the story was originally printed in 1943 and out of print, it was reprinted -faithful to the original- in 2006 in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

The February issue of Country Living UK has page after page of mesmerizingly beautiful narcissi. I find myself flipping through the magazine over and over again. These interior photos seem to be styled while keeping in mind that freshness of spring blooms and the yet continuing need for warmth. The dominant color is the sweetest shade of green.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

This is the home of Stewart and Jane Devlin in Millbrook, Hudson Valley. They're Irish and English, respectively. This renovated 18th century house is so close to New York while providing the countryside lifestyle of their old country.